Letter: Right to Work is really anti-worker legislation

To the Editor:

It is unfortunate Minnesota workers are potentially being forced to give up their civil rights by union avoidance employers so in favor of “Right to Work” legislation. Perhaps during Black History Month we should think about what Martin Luther King Jr. said when speaking about right-to-work laws in 1961.

“In our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as ‘right-to-work.’ It is a law to rob us of our civil rights and job rights.

“Its purpose is to destroy labor unions and the freedom of collective bargaining by which unions have improved wages and working conditions of everyone … . Wherever these laws have been passed, wages are lower, job opportunities are fewer and there are no civil rights. We do not intend to let them do this to us. We demand this fraud be stopped. Our weapon is our vote.”

We have Minnesota legislative Republican politicians living among us who support such anti-worker legislation. They quote subversive dribble from unheard of anti-union political organizations that twist information. It all sounds like they are trying to help workers. The truth is they are trying to stay in power.

Here are a few facts:

• Work places in right-to-work states are more dangerous. Workers in these states are more than twice as likely to be killed on the job as workers in Minnesota. In 2008, the fatal occupational injury rate in Minnesota was 2.4 per every 100,000 workers, compared to 5.4 in states with Right to Work laws.

Poverty is more common in states with right-to-work laws. Minnesotans earn on average $10,000 more than people in right-to-work states like South Dakota. That is $5 more an hour than earned in right to work states. Health care is better in Minnesota … much better because of organized labor options.

Minnesota Republican legislators are supporting this amendment/legislation only to increase their own political power and the profit of businesses that “support” them. The idea that they are creating jobs is just false.

Stand against Right to Work.

Bruce Yernberg

Red Wing

Tags: opinion, letters